Todd Dills

The first in a series of Voices podcasts airing editorial comment on a variety of issues, here stemming from discussion of both sleeper berth period flexibility and FMCSA's planned liability insurance hike in D.C. Call 530-208-6423 at any time to record a message.

An FMCSA advisory committee approved a report critical of the U.S.-Mexico cross-border pilot program, notably the program's lack of inspection data and participation. Mexican carriers in the program now have full authority to operate in the U.S.

An FMCSA advisory committee discussion offered insight into how the agency will proceed with its rulemaking to increase liability insurance minimums and the potential consequences facing small business truckers if and when an increase occurs.

Industry representatives worried that the questionnaire would put yet another stumbling block in the driver medical certification process; doctors argued it would help document their determination of whether a driver is fit to receive a medical card.

Todd Dills

Todd Dills is Senior Editor of Overdrive magazine and writes from Nashville, Tenn. He frequently covers business, regulatory and lifestyle topics for the magazine and at OverdriveOnline.com. His work on the “CSA’s Data Trail” series in Overdrive about the federal CSA program was awarded the highest honor in trade journalism – the “Grand Neal” – by American Business Media at the 2014 Jesse H. Neal Awards. Dills’ Channel 19 blog covers a grab bag of on-highway hearsay, owner-operator news and driver views from the roadways the nation over. His work in trucking journalism builds on a background of news feature, fiction and other creative writing and editing. Find him here at the Channel 19 blog and via his Twitter feed, or send tips to tdills@randallreilly.com or via phone at 205-907-2481.